Thermoplastic road marking is a heavy-duty pavement marking material composed of synthetic hydrocarbon or alkyd resins, pigment, mineral extenders, and embedded glass beads. Unlike conventional water-based or solvent-based paint that wears off quickly, thermoplastic material is heated to approximately 180°C to 200°C and applied in a molten state onto asphalt or concrete road surfaces.

Upon cooling within minutes, it fuses with the road surface to form a thick, wear-resistant, high-visibility line conforming to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) Section 803 standards.

The optical performance of thermoplastic markings depends on retro-reflection. The compound contains both intermix glass beads throughout the material and surface drop-on glass beads applied immediately behind the molten screed applicator.

When vehicle headlights illuminate the road marking at night, the microscopic spherical glass beads refract and reflect the light directly back into the driver’s eyes, illuminating lane lines and pedestrian crossings even in dark, unlit conditions.

• Extended Service Life: Typically lasts 3 to 5 times longer than cold solvent paints under heavy commercial traffic.
• Rapid Drying & Traffic Reopening: Hardens within 2 to 5 minutes, minimizing traffic disruption during highway execution.
• Superior Nighttime Retro-Reflectivity: Drop-on glass beads ensure immediate high initial retro-reflectivity.
• High Skid Resistance: Formulated with skid-resistant aggregates to safeguard two-wheeler motorists.

In India, all national highway projects require strict compliance with MoRTH specifications: